CHESAPEAKE — Melony Daniels, who generally had as much as 5 dogs in her home, at all times dreamed of serving to animals, discovering them properties and holding them protected.
Among her fur infants was a golden retriever named Reba — an ode to nation star Reba McEntire — who’d later grew to become the namesake for her nonprofit, Reba’s Animal Rescue, in 2011. Melony had desires of building a shelter the place extra dogs may very well be served and adopted. But following a sudden dying in 2017, her husband Charlie could be the one to see her imaginative and prescient by way of.
Several years later, Charlie Daniels mentioned it’s lastly coming to fruition in October. A brand new no-kill animal shelter and canine run known as Reba’s Rescue, situated at 1646 S. Military Highway, will quickly serve a dozen native dogs, which he mentioned may also assist help overflow from overcrowded animal shelters throughout Hampton Roads.
“(Melony) always said, ‘Look, let’s start a charity. Let’s think about what we can do,’” Daniels mentioned. “We started doing that a little bit, but once she passed, we kicked it into overdrive because I wanted to be able to show that this is what she wanted to do. I wanted to do it in her honor.”
The 3,500-square-foot facility sits on 20 acres, offering loads of house for dogs to run and train. A dozen kennels will be capable of serve a wide range of sizes.
And locals are prone to be greeted by Bingo, a puppy on the calmer aspect who Charlie Daniels lately adopted from the Norfolk SPCA.
Since the nonprofit fashioned, it has partnered with and donated lots of of 1000’s to native animal advocacy teams, such because the Norfolk SPCA. Director Kimberly Sherlaw known as the brand new shelter a “lifesaver,” noting that even transferring simply 12 dogs to the brand new facility will assist the Norfolk shelter, which she mentioned is 50% over capability.
“We’re so excited that (Daniels) and his team have built the center,” Sherlaw mentioned. “Having a new center where it’s enriching, it’s bright, it’s happy. … Dogs in our very old facility will be able to hopefully be adopted much quicker here.”
Sherlaw additionally mentioned massive dogs particularly are staying in shelters longer, so the extra house is very good for them.
“This facility really took the time to think about the dogs’ experience here and how people would view that,” she mentioned.
Once the shelter formally opens, Daniels already has plans to increase within the years to return to accommodate over 100 extra animals, together with cats and horses. He and Sherlaw estimate the 20 acres can help as much as 200 animals.
“It’s everything we believe in,” he mentioned.
Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, [email protected]
